1,721,088 research outputs found
Caregiver executive functions are associated with infant visual working memory
Full text linkCaregiver executive functions (EFs) play an integral role in shaping cognitive development. Here, we investigated how caregiver EF abilities (86 caregivers; mean age = 33.4 years, SD = 4.5) was associated with visual working memory (VWM) in infants (86 infants females; mean age = 250.6 days, SD = 35.8). The BRIEF-A was used to assess caregiver EFs, and a preferential looking task along with fNIRS was used to assess VWM function in infants. Our findings revealed that better caregiver behavioral regulation was associated with better VWM performance, greater right-lateralized parietal activation, and left-lateralized frontal suppression, while better caregiver metacognition and emotional control was associated with greater right-lateralized temporal suppression in infants. Taken together, these associations suggest that better caregiver EF abilities might shape visuo-spatial attention and memory, guide fixation on task-relevant goals, and suppress distractions in children from as early as the first year of life. Highlights: The study investigated the association between caregiver executive functions (EF) and visual working memory (VWM) function in infants. Caregiver EFs were assessed using the BRIEF-A questionnaire, and infant VWM function was assessed using the preferential-looking task and brain imaging. Better caregiver EF abilities were associated with better VWM behavior and fronto-temporo-parietal engagement in infants
Systematic review and meta-analysis of interdisciplinary interventions for the management of paediatric chronic pain
No full textThe aim of this review is to synthesise the existing data regarding the content and effectiveness of interdisciplinary interventions for paediatric chronic pain. Specifically, the following questions will be addressed:• How effective are existing interdisciplinary interventions for paediatric chronic pain?• Which outcome measures are used in existing interdisciplinary interventions for paediatric chronic pain
The Ideal Psychologist vs. a Messy Reality: Using and Misunderstanding Effect Sizes, Confidence Intervals and Power
Full text linkIn the past two decades, there have been calls for statistical reform in psychology. Three key concepts within reform are effect sizes, confidence intervals and statistical power. The aim of this thesis was to examine the use and knowledge of these particular concepts, to examine whether researchers are suitably equipped to incorporate them into their research.
This thesis consists of five studies. Study 1 reviewed author guidelines across 100 psychology journals, to look for any statistical recommendations. Study 2 (n = 247) and Study 3 (n = 56) examined the use and knowledge of effect sizes using a questionnaire and online experiment. Study 4 surveyed psychology researchers on their use and knowledge of confidence intervals (n = 206). Similarly, Study 5 surveyed psychology researchers on their use and knowledge of power analyses and statistical power (n = 214).
Typically, psychology journals expect authors to report effect sizes in their work, although there are fewer expectations related to confidence intervals. Power analyses are also frequently encouraged for sample size justification. Self-reported use of effect sizes, confidence intervals and power analyses was high, while common barriers to use included a lack of knowledge, a lack of motivation, and the influence of academic peers. While knowledge of effect sizes was quite high, they appear to only be understood in relatively limited contexts. In contrast, both confidence intervals and statistical power appear to be frequently misunderstood, and many researchers find power analysis calculations difficult. Researchers would benefit from increased education and support to encourage them to confidently adopt an assortment of statistics in their work, and more effort must be made to prevent statistical changes from becoming a new series of tick-box exercises that do not improve the integrity of psychological research
Effectiveness of interdisciplinary interventions in paediatric chronic pain management: a systematic review and subset meta-analysis
No full textBackground Paediatric chronic pain is a significant problem that can have devastating impacts on quality of life. Multimodal interdisciplinary interventions are the mainstay of paediatric treatment. The aim of this article is to provide a comprehensive review of the effectiveness of interdisciplinary interventions in the management of paediatric chronic pain. Methods Studies were identified via a search of nine databases. The search strategy included concept blocks pertaining to type of pain, study population, and type of intervention. Eligible studies reported the effects of an intervention co-ordinated by two or more healthcare professionals of different disciplines, and recruited a sample aged 22 yr or below with chronic pain. Twenty-eight studies were included, and 21 provided data for inclusion in between- and within-groups meta-analyses. Results Patients randomised to interdisciplinary interventions reported significantly lower pain intensity 0–1 month post-intervention compared with patients randomised to the control groups. Within-groups analysis of patients receiving interdisciplinary interventions showed significant improvements pre- to post-intervention in pain intensity, functional disability, anxiety, depression, catastrophising, school attendance, school functioning, and pain acceptance. Few differences were found between interventions delivered in inpatient vs outpatient settings. Significant heterogeneity due mainly to differing outcome variables and intervention content was found in most analyses. Conclusions Overall, interdisciplinary interventions show promise in providing a range of clinical benefits for children with chronic pain. Methodologically robust randomised controlled trials using standardised outcome measures are needed, however, to guide clinical care
‘A whirlwind of everything’: the lived experience of adolescents with co-occurring chronic pain and mental health symptoms
Full text linkBackground: Co-occurring chronic pain and mental health issues are prevalent in adolescents, costly to society and can lead to increased risk of complications throughout the lifespan. While research has largely examined paediatric chronic pain and mental health in isolation, little is known about the unique challenges faced by adolescents who experience these co-occurring symptoms. This idiographic study examined the lived experience of adolescents with co-occurring chronic pain and mental health symptoms to identify salient issues for this population. Methods: Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with seven adolescents (11–19 years) self-reporting diagnoses of both pain and mental health issues for a duration of 3 months or longer. Participants were recruited from UK-based schools, pain clinics and charities. Interview transcripts were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Results: Analyses generated two themes ‘a whirlwind of everything’ and ‘putting up fronts’, which describe how the experience of co-occurring chronic pain and mental health symptoms typically disrupted adolescents' ability to regulate their physical, psychological and social wellbeing and identity. Adolescents described their symptom experience as like an internal storm over which they had no control. Such experiences required adolescents to embrace a variety of symptom management strategies, with adolescents reporting deliberate efforts to minimize their symptoms to external individuals. Conclusion: Co-occurring pain and mental health symptoms may be experienced in similar ways to individually experienced pain or mental health symptoms, but together, the experience may be both more difficult to manage and more socially isolating. Significance: Adolescents with co-occurring chronic pain and mental health symptoms describe the experience as if there was a storm inside of them disrupting their sense of physical, emotional and social wellbeing. This inner chaos interferes with their self-identity and relationships with others. Challenges articulating their experiences, and negative encounters associated with their symptoms, further impact feelings of isolation and difficulties accessing support.</p
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Commentary: Parent-child interactions during painful medical procedures: recommendations by Blount and colleagues (1991) have not fallen on deaf ears!
Full text linkThe article by Blount and colleagues (1991) has played a prominent role in laying the foundations for furthering our understanding of the role in of the social context in children’s pain experiences. Blount and colleagues (1991) demonstrated that adult’s responses to child pain differ depending on children’s level of coping behavior, with no differences observed for children’s responsiveness to parents versus staff behaviors. These findings as well as their rigorous methodological approach, substantially influenced research and clinical practice on the social context of pediatric pain experiences during medical procedures. The two main recommendations the authors made, i.e. systematic replication of their findings and the need for evidence-based training programs, did not fall on deaf ears and have received substantial research attention in the past 30 years. This commentary will focus on providing a summary of how the evidence base on parent-child interactions during painful procedures has evolved since this publication, with a focus on the inclusion of non-verbal behavior due to the availability of video recordings. This will be followed by a discussion on how this growing evidence base influenced the design and evaluation of pain management interventions for acute pediatric pain experience, ranging from localized interventions to wide-reaching social media initiative. The commentary will end with future directions for research and clinic practice within this field
We shouldn’t worry so much about our kids’ anxiety – it’s a normal part of growing up
Full text linkFirst paragraph: There’s been a big rise in the number of young people seeking help for their anxieties, according to Childline. The telephone counselling service has suggested exposure to social media reports on global issues such as Brexit and the war in Syria may be behind the 35% increase in the number of calls it receives from anxious children. Access this article on The Conversation website: https://theconversation.com/we-shouldnt-worry-so-much-about-our-kids-anxiety-its-a-normal-part-of-growing-up-6796
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